News Releases for September 2004
September 30, 2004
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Announces Grant To Provide Single Point Of Access For Seniors And People With Disabilities
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today joined advocates for older adults and people with disabilities to announce that North Dakota has been awarded a grant to provide a single point of access to long term support and care services for seniors and people with disabilities. The $315,000 three-year grant will help fund the Governor’s initiative to provide North Dakotans with a full range of services from nursing home care to home and community-based support.
AARP North Dakota, the North Dakota Department of Human Services and the North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium collaborated to develop the proposal with the goal of creating a resource for families to contact when exploring long term support and care options.
“This grant will continue the work begun by the state’s Olmstead Commission,” Hoeven said. “It will enable North Dakota to strengthen the coordination between providers so that people are aware of their choices and can easily locate appropriate long term support services.”
Linda Wurtz of AARP said, “Older adults want choices, and many prefer to use in-home support services to remain independent as long as possible. Unfortunately, families often make decisions during a medical crisis with very limited information. This grant will help address that knowledge gap as well as other access issues.”
According to Hoeven, the initiative will focus first on coordination and public awareness efforts. Partnering organizations hope to propose administrative rules and legislation in 2007 to ensure that North Dakotans have access to a comprehensive range of service options.
“There are many young people with disabilities who are currently residing in nursing homes,” said Jim Moench, executive director of the North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium. “This is not the best setting for them, or their preferred setting. We hope this grant will help strengthen the care options available to people with disabilities.”
The North Dakota Department of Human Services will administer the grant in collaboration with the other entities involved in its development.
For additional information about the grant, please contact:
Linda Wurtz, AARP - (701) 527-1474
Jim Moench, North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium - (701) 220-7534
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